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Kenric Tam

Kenric Tam, MD

Head and Neck Surgeon

Patient Reviews

Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

  • Head and neck cancers
  • Laryngeal (larynx) cancer
  • Mouth (oral) cancer

My Specialties

  • Minimally invasive surgery
  • Endoscopic surgery
  • Laser surgery
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Dr. Tam's Office Information
Languages: English
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Get to Know Me

I am a head and neck surgeon dedicated to caring for people with both cancerous and noncancerous tumors affecting the head and neck. These include:

 

I have training in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the ears, nose, and throat. I am also trained in head and neck surgery, including microvascular free flap reconstruction, a surgical procedure for head and neck reconstruction that moves tissue and blood vessels from one part of the body to another. My specialized training in these areas allows me to provide the highest level of care for my patients.

I see patients at Memorial Hospital and the David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and perform surgery at the Josie Robertson Surgery Center in Manhattan. I also see patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge in New Jersey.

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Head and neck cancer presents unique challenges, as it can affect integral aspects of our daily lives such as speaking and eating. I am committed to providing my patients and their families with compassionate and expert care. I collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team of world-renowned specialists, including radiation and medical oncologists, plastic surgeons, dentists, speech and swallow therapists, pathologists, and radiologists. Together, we aim to not just remove the tumor or cancer but achieve the best possible functional and cosmetic outcomes while prioritizing quality of life.

In addition to treating head and neck and thyroid cancers, I work with neurosurgeons to address sinus (nasal), spine, skull base, and pituitary tumors. Whenever possible, we use minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques to speed recovery and reduce side effects.

My research focuses on strategies to ensure complete cancer removal during surgery while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. I have authored numerous textbook chapters on head and neck cancer and published research in leading basic science, translational, and clinical journals.

Before pursuing medicine, I was a classically trained concert pianist and earned a master’s degree in piano performance. I continue to enjoy playing the piano and attending concerts in my free time.

What I Do at MSK

A head and neck surgeon is a doctor with special training in surgery on the head and neck. This includes the larynx, lips, mouth, nose, salivary glands, and throat.

  • Assistant Attending Surgeon
Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

  • Head and neck cancers
  • Laryngeal (larynx) cancer
  • Mouth (oral) cancer
  • Nose (nasal) cancer and sinus tumors
  • Salivary gland tumors
  • Skin cancer and conditions
  • Throat cancers and conditions
  • Thyroid cancer and conditions
  • Tongue cancer
  • Pituitary and skull base tumors
  • Melanoma

My Specialties

  • Minimally invasive surgery
  • Endoscopic surgery
  • Laser surgery
  • Robotic surgery
  • Thyroid surgery
  • Thyroidectomy
  • Lymph node dissection
Education & Honors

Education

  • BA, Harvard College
  • Master of Music, New England Conservatory of Music
  • MD, Stanford University School of Medicine

Residencies

  • Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles

Fellowships

  • Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)
  • Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgery, MSK

Awards and Honors

  • Hoopes Prize for Outstanding and Original Thesis, Harvard College (2012)
  • Medical Scholars Discovery Grant, Stanford University (2014)
  • Medical Scholars Research Fellowship (2016-2017)

Insurance Information

Understanding your insurance options is an important part of managing your cancer care. We have relationships with many common healthcare providers and plans.

Aetna

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant

Aetna Medicare Advantage (MTA and NYC retirees only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Anthem BCBS and other BCBS licensee plans

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

See updates

Anthem BCBS Health Plus

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

See updates

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

See updates

Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS

See updates

Carrum Health

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

Cigna

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Connecticare

In Network Coverage Type
POS, EPO, HMO

Emblem

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Emblem to learn more.

Emblem Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Emblem Medicare Advantage (Medicare Choice PPO Network and VIP Prime Network Only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Empire Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Empire Plan / NYSHIP (Blue Cross/UnitedHealthcare split plan)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

See updates

Fidelis

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Fidelis to learn more.

Fidelis Managed Medicaid & HARP

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Fidelis Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

First Health

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Healthfirst

In Network Coverage Type
EPO, HMO, PPO, POS

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Healthfirst to learn more.

Healthfirst Managed Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Healthfirst Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

Healthsmart

In Network Coverage Type
PPO EPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (HMO)

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (PPO)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier I (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier II (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

See updates

Horizon Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Husky CT Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Magnacare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO

Straight NJ Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Straight NY Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Medicare Part A&B (traditional Medicare)

In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government

Multiplan/Beech Street/PHCS

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

MVP

In Network Coverage Type
PPO/OAP

Non-Participating Plans with Out of Network Benefits

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

NYC Medicare Advantage Plus for City Employees

In Network Coverage Type
TBD

Oscar

In Network Coverage Type
HMO/EPO

Oxford

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, EPO

World Trade Center Health Program (WTC)

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Qualcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Tricare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

UMR

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS

United Healthcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Don't see your carrier or plan? We can help you understand your coverage.

If you don't have health insurance or are worried that your care may not be fully covered, our financial assistance programs may be able to help.

If you have questions about insurance, call us at 646-497-9176.

Make an Appointment

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Current Patients
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Contact and Location

Dr. Tam sees patients at four locations.

Office Phone
Location
New York, NY
Basking Ridge, NJ
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue New York NY 10065
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Josie Robertson Surgery Center
1133 York Avenue New York NY 10065
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David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
530 East 74th Street New York NY 10021
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge
136 Mountain View Boulevard Basking Ridge NJ 07920
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Colleagues

Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. This allows us to consider all your needs together, and to give you the best possible care.

See all Head and Neck Service doctors

Clinical Trials

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Find a Clinical Trial for You

Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.

You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.

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Research and Publications

  1. Tam, K., Huang, S., Mukdad, L., Alhiyari, Y., Krane, J., Shori, R., Stafsudd, O. and St. John, M. (2023), Real-Time Intraoperative Detection of Margins for Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 169: 1390-1392.
  2. Tam, K., Alhiyari, Y., Huang, S. et al. Label-free, real-time detection of perineural invasion and cancer margins in a murine model of head and neck cancer surgery. Sci Rep 12, 12871 (2022).
  3. Tam K, Schoppy DW, Shin JH, et al. Assessing the Impact of Targeting CEACAM1 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2018;159(1):76-84.
  4. Tam, K., Orosco, R.K., Dimitrios Colevas, A., Bedi, N., Starmer, H.M., Beadle, B.M. and Holsinger, F.C. (2019), Cost comparison of treatment for oropharyngeal carcinoma. The Laryngoscope, 129: 1604-1609.
  5. Orosco RK, Tam K, Nakayama M, Holsinger FC, Spriano G. Transoral supraglottic laryngectomy using a next-generation single-port robotic surgical system. Head & Neck. 2019; 41: 2143–2147. 
Publications on PubMed

Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Tam’s journal articles. Pubmed is an online index of research papers and other articles from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

See all on PubMed